Skye Knoester competes internationally in Judo with the South African flag pinned to her back, her journey firmly rooted in the shared Budō heritage that unites martial artists across disciplines. While most OSSU readers come from a karate background, there is a wealth of insight to be gained from the other
In South African martial arts, few stories are as rich as Sensei Alfred “Alfie” Stevenson’s. A Springbok judoka, accomplished karateka, and Olympic-level coach, he holds a nanadan (7th dan) in judo and a sandan (3rd dan) in karate. He’s walked the line between throws and strikes his whole life. It
Sensei Jess Geyer and her father, Sensei Keith Geyer, from JKA SKC Australasia, recently visited South Africa to teach a seminar at the SA JKA Honbu dojo. I had the privilege of helping with photography, which gave me a front-row seat to this powerhouse duo in action—and wow, what an
Can you share your early experiences with karate and how you got started in the martial art? I remember trying karate in my nursery school days with a great man named Les Stevens! There was one day where everyone who was interested got the opportunity to try a karate class,
Charné Griesel is a South African Judo champion making waves in the judo world! At the 2022 Commonwealth Games, she secured a well-deserved bronze medal in the Women’s 52 kg category, but her achievements don’t stop there. Back in 2019, Charné won gold at the African Cup U21 in Tunis
In this exclusive interview with Michiyo Teraoka, we explore the intriguing intersection of her professional journey and her passion for karate. Can you tell us a bit about your background? Where were you born and raised, and what was your early life like? I was born and raised in Tokyo,
